Did you know the leader in custom awnings, Groupe Bellon Prestige, has been in business for over 100 years?
Currently, there are around 236,000 active SMBs in Quebec. Groupe Bellon Prestige is one of the companies that has prospered and has been part of the Quebec decor for 125 years. We offer an awning design and installation service to residential and commercial owners. Whether you need a custom awning or a winter shelter, we’re here to simplify your life.
In Quebec, around 96,000 companies emerge every year. Of these 96,000 companies, 98% will survive their first year. Subsequently, Quebec recorded more significant declines. After 5 years, 63% of these companies will still be in operation, and after 10 years, only 43%. So, we can conclude that staying in business for over 100 years is a feat.
Our family business is in its 4th generation, and our president, Carole Bellon, is already preparing the ground for the 5th generation.
Find out how the Groupe Bellon Prestige has managed to stay in business for over 100 years. Here are our tips.
The importance of reputation in the business
Groupe Bellon Prestige specializes in the design and installation of custom-made awnings and shelters. Our ability to offer custom awnings in over 500 colours and all shapes has enabled us to secure prestigious contracts such as the Olympic Games, Expo 67, and even the canvases of COVID-19 testing clinics in 2020.
The complexity of the products we offer makes us stand out. The experience and expertise of our employees are also a key element in maintaining our reputation’s impeccable quality. Some of our employees have been with us for several decades. It is this same experience that allows us to ensure an unequalled quality standard in the industry.
Dedicated customer service: an undeniable asset
Training your representatives
Your employees represent your business. You must therefore ensure they are well trained to answer your customers’ questions. At Groupe Bellon Prestige, a representative will take several hundred hours before getting to know all the products offered. This is why we ensure our representatives receive quality training before answering our customers’ questions.
Quality support
Our company also stands out by offering a turnkey service. Whether our customers are looking for a custom awning or a winter shelter, we support them from start to finish. From the first call, we make sure the client feels taken care of by a dedicated and competent team.
To do this, our representative travels to advise the client, takes the time to fully understand their needs and take the measures for a quick and free quote. Then, a project manager takes the exact measurements to make a plan for your custom awning. Then a purchasing manager checks that we have the necessary materials for the project and takes care of purchasing the missing materials if necessary.
Finally, the production of your awning begins in our 35,000 square foot factory. In 4 weeks, you will receive a custom-made awning of unparalleled quality.
Related services to better serve our customers
Providing many services to your customers is also an advantage. For example, as soon as we finish the custom awning’s production, we contact the customer to offer an installation date.
Besides the installation, we also offer our customers the possibility of having us do the cleaning and waterproofing of their canvases. So if the canvas gets dirty, we can clean it for our customers.
Here are some of the other services offered by our custom awning specialists:
So by offering a storage service, our customers can store their shelters in heated, insured and secure premises. This helps to maintain their awning’s quality for many years.
From start to finish, we are always by our customers’ side and helping them make informed decisions. Whether for a winter shelter, summer curtains, or the purchase of an electric patio heater, we offer our customers personalized service from the first call to the finish.
Focus on your staff and teamwork
Designing and installing a premium custom awning is not a single employee’s job. At Groupe Bellon Prestige, we understand the importance of teamwork. That’s why we do everything we can to ensure our staff’s well-being.
We have designed a social club that organizes many activities that improve team cohesion. We also offer an incentive to employees who refer a person. These elements play an important role in ensuring our employees’ loyalty. This is why many of Groupe Bellon Prestige’s representatives are with us for several decades.
When Groupe Bellon started, we only offered custom awnings. So most of the jobs with us were seasonal. As winter approached, we had to do layoffs, and then re-hire when spring returned. So by adding carports to our products, we can retain our staff year-round.
Another way to ensure our employees’ well-being is to rely on a transparent internal approach. This is why we organize monthly team meetings to talk about the company’s strengths and plans. Each month, we also give an employee of the month plaque to the person who stood out the most and was consistent in their work.
Groupe Bellon Prestige: a story of passion for custom awnings
Passion isn’t just about design. It’s also about the manufacture and processing of the product and seeing customer’s satisfaction. This is what motivates everyone, both in the factory and in the office.
We firmly believe that cultivating passion and motivating everyone is crucial for a company to last over 100 years in business. So we take the necessary time to put the kind words from customers on a bulletin board in the factory. This way we make sure our employees know how much their work is appreciated. We also add photos of finished products in the factory so that everyone can see the work being done.
Visibility: a key element of success
Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, but modern businesses today need more. This is why it’s necessary to stay abreast of the latest trends.
Marketing has evolved since the inception of the Yellow Pages. To prosper today, you need to have a web presence at the very least. The design of a business website is crucial to ensure your business’ visibility. To have an operational website is the first step to improving your visibility in the technology age.
We invested in a marketing department that takes care of communications for the company and its subsidiaries. This way we can be sure we will continue to be talked about.
Also, even with a website and a marketing team, we consider word of mouth as relevant. So we rely on our staff’s well-being and the quality of our customer service to contribute to our visibility.
How does Groupe Bellon Prestige prepare the 5th generation for the succession?
Currently, our successor is the president of another awning company belonging to Groupe Bellon Prestige. He will learn the basics on his own. Although our company is specialized in the creation of custom awnings, we are also a property protection company.
So our 5th generation takes over in style, we are seeking to innovate and better integrate 4.0 into the company to better serve our customers.
Pierre Trudeau, Carole Bellon’s son, touched on all areas. It is by building on this experience that we will continue to grow and innovate while remaining human. So we are preparing our succession to grow while respecting our internal values. The reason we still exist after 125 years is that we have the next generation interested in continuing our operations. Our story of passion is therefore far from over!
For any questions regarding a custom, residential or commercial awning, do not hesitate to contact us. It is with great pleasure that we put our expertise at your disposal.
